WSU Scientists Tackle Energy Grid and Cybersecurity Challenges with AI

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Washington State University scientists are at the forefront of efforts to address the complex challenges facing the evolving power grid and cybersecurity threats. As the grid becomes more decentralized and variable with the rise of renewable energy sources, AI and machine learning offer promise in areas like forecasting energy demand and supply, as well as long-term planning for grid infrastructure. However, the energy-hungry nature of AI data centers also poses a threat, stressing energy grids and raising concerns about rising consumer prices. On the cybersecurity front, WSU researchers are working to protect vital networks from AI-aided malware and deepfake scams, while also exploring ways to synthetically generate cybersecurity data to train machine learning models.

Why it matters

The power grid and cybersecurity are critical infrastructure that underpins modern society. As the grid becomes more complex with the integration of renewable energy sources and the rise of AI data centers, and as cyber threats continue to evolve, WSU's research efforts to leverage AI and machine learning technologies to enhance grid management and cybersecurity are crucial for ensuring the stability and resilience of these vital systems.

The details

WSU researchers are working to accelerate the evolution of power grids into a decentralized, "distributed" model, developing applications to coordinate a grid's distributed assets for improved efficiency, help power systems recover from outages, and support planning to better protect the grid against major disasters. On the cybersecurity front, WSU was recently named a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Research by the U.S. National Security Agency, reflecting the rapid growth of cybersecurity research and teaching at the university. WSU's VICEROY Institute for Cybersecurity Education and Research is exploring ways to synthetically generate cybersecurity data to train machine learning models, addressing the challenge of limited availability of real-world security data due to privacy concerns.

• In September 2025, WSU was named a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Research by the U.S. National Security Agency.
• In 2021, WSU established the VICEROY Institute for Cybersecurity Education and Research (CySER).

What they’re saying

What’s next

WSU researchers will continue to explore ways to leverage AI and machine learning to enhance grid management and cybersecurity, with a focus on ensuring the reliability and trustworthiness of these technologies in real-world applications.